Unbeaten New Zealand-bred colt Oracy is a short-priced favourite to win the G1 Summer Cup (2000m) at Turffontein on Saturday.  Bookies have installed the four year-old as the 22-10 public elect for the first feature of South Africa’s summer season.

Oracy is arguably the most exciting horse in the country by virtue of his unbeaten record and the promise that there is still more to come.  All eyes will be trained on him in what is by far the stiffest test of his short but already eventful career.

Oracy’s two biggest wins to date have been at G2 level in the Dingaans and Gauteng Guineas.  He is yet to race beyond 1600m but his pedigree suggests the step up in distance won’t be a problem.

Oracy (4c Zabeel – Lady Dehere by Dehere) is trained by Charles Laird for Marcus Jooste and was a $400,000 buy out of the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2007 NZ Bloodstock Karaka yearling sale.

Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Oracy is from G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Lady Dehere.  She is a half-sister to Mungrup Stud sire Oratorio (Stravinsky) who is making a huge impact in WA with his first crop runners that includes G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Gold Rocks and emerging star Waratah’s Secret.  Oracy’s second dam Hold That Smith (Haulpak) was WA’s Horse of the Year in 1988-89.

Street Cry gelding Eight Start is another Australasian bred galloper nominated for the Summer Cup by Laird.  He has really come into his own since June, posting easy stakes wins over 1800m in both the Cup Trial and Victory Moon.